Essex Tourist Guide

History, nature, and safety first in Essex

Essex is a country of historic origin and is situated in East England. Its name was derived from East Seaxe or East Saxons.

The oldest recorded town in Britain which was in existence before the Roman conquest, Colchester, is located in Essex. The Colchester Castle is one of the greatest attractions of the county. It is now a public museum which features centuries of history ranging from the Stone Age to the civil war. Colchester town also houses one of Britain’s leading independent department stores, Williams and Griffin, which makes shopping a great treat.

Essex is also within close proximity to London which has made it into a prime settlement area where London workers can make their homes and raise their children. It has several airports, the main one being London Stansted Airport. It also has a number of rail routes which connects to London, Liverpool, Harwich and other places in the England.

This historic county is also home to a number of nature destinations such as the Ardleigh Reservoir where visitors can experience trout wishing and watersports. The largest body of freshwater in Essex is Abberton Reservoir which is a vital waterbird autumn destination. The Colchester Zoo also attracts animal lovers and enthusiast as the zoo holds one of the biggest collections of big cat and primate animals in Europe. A very old woodland, Blakeswood is open to the public. It is well known for its bluebells and wood anemones.

True to its historic roots, one of the England’s stately historic houses, Audley End, is situated in Saffron Walden, Essex. It was created by Thomas Howard for the pleasure of King James I. A visit to Audley End provides enjoyment of lavish interior designs of rooms with huge collections of painting and furnishings. It also houses a lovely Elysian garden and an organic Kitchen garden.

The celebration of culture is very much alive in Essex, the county which has inspired such literary greats as Lord Alfred Tennyson. Essex has many galleries where tourists can explore and enjoy art such as the Fry Art Gallery in Saffron Walden, the Sir Alfred Munning Museum in Dedham, and the Beecroft Art Gallery in South-end on Sea.

Essex also commemorate its links with China and the Chinese culture through its ten-month long Essex-Jiangsu Cultural Festival with photo exhibits, puppet and theatre shows, and dragon boat races held all throughout the county.

A county of contrasts and extreme variety, Essex’s architecture ranges from historical buildings such as the oldest wooden church, at Greensted and iconic structures such as model villages Silverend, and Clockhouse Way in Braintree. Award-winning RSPB Environment and Education Centre boasts of up to date security, striking design, and features of water and energy efficiency.

Essex has recently embarked on a quest to make the county the safest place to live in the England. The latest program is the ‘No Cold Calling” sticker which is to be placed on front doors or windows of homes to discourage door to door peddlers and rogue traders.

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